Arson destroys
Mummers’ material

By William Kenny
Times Staff Writer

An arson fire ripped through a Tacony warehouse owned by the Greater Kensington String Band last week, destroying many of the large scenery backdrops that the band had planned to use in the 2008 Mummers Parade.
The blaze broke out at about 6:20 p.m. on Oct. 2 at 6801 State Road. When firefighters arrived, the roof of the 100-foot by 50-foot brick building was involved in heavy flames, according to Executive Chief Daniel Williams, a fire department spokesman.
The fire was declared under control within about a half-hour. Fire investigators later determined that someone had poured flammable liquid in the warehouse and lighted it with an open flame.
The blaze appeared to start near the north end of the structure, Williams said.
No civilians or firefighters were injured.
As with any arson, the case has been assigned to Philadelphia police for criminal investigation. The case has been assigned to Northeast Detectives. There were no arrests or named suspects as of Monday.
According to Scott Moyer, captain of the string band, no members of his organization were at the warehouse in the hours preceding the fire. Band members last visited the site "within a week or so," Moyer said.
The string band maintains a separate clubhouse and meeting hall at Cottman Avenue and Edmund Street.
The warehouse is set back from State Road near Longshore Avenue along the Delaware River. The band used the site mainly for storage and for building the tall and intricately detailed backdrops featured in its annual Mummers Parade performances.
The site had a security fence and locked gate, Moyer said.
One day after the fire, the band had yet to assess the full extent and value of the damage, but members described it as basically a total loss, including materials, tools and countless hours of labor that they had invested into the background pieces.
Moyer described the incident as a major setback in the string band’s parade preparations. ••
Reporter William Kenny can be reached at 215-354-3031 or bkenny@phillynews.com